From a special plot on a slope in an alpine vineyard. A limited cuvée made from only grapes of outstanding quality and 4-8 barrels only in the best vintages. Aged in French barrels for about 17 months (about 60% new barrels). More concentrated than the regular cuvée, with more fascinating complex flavors, such as bloody and gamey nuances. The alpine characteristics are even more prominent. The chalky soil, cool environment, steep slopes, and dense planting of the 40-year-old grape vines give the wine a firm mineral feel and a red fruit nuance bordered by excellent acidity.
About Reese's Grapes and Winemaking (Pinot Noir)
About Reese's grapes and winemaking (Pinot Noir): The grapes are harvested at the best time from each distinctive vineyard (balanced acidity, sugar and ripeness, never overripe), transported in small baskets (to avoid being crushed), and all brought cold to the cellar, which was completed in 2010 (located across the San Andreas Fault from Ridge's Monte Bello vineyards).
From the time the grapes are delivered until they are bottled, everything is designed to be done by gravity flow (gravity transports the grapes from higher to lower levels, and no pumps are used, so the juice is not put under any extra strain).
The sorting table is slow, and one ton of grapes is sorted in about an hour, and no unripe or overripe fruit is put into the fermentation tank.
The rate of whole-cluster fermentation varies from wine to wine.
The facility is equipped with approximately 120 1-ton stainless steel open-top fermentation tanks for small batch fermentation (see photo on the right).
The fermentation tank is small enough to be lifted with a forklift and moved without the need for a pump.
All fermentation is done using natural yeast, and it is interesting to see how each vineyard has its own unique fermentation process.
The aging period varies depending on the wine, and is done in French barrels that have been naturally dried for four years (usually less than three years).
Unfiltered and bottled without artificial fining.
Hillside Cuvée
About 20 years after planting, it was discovered that a special block of grapes in the Alpine region produces grapes of exceptional quality, and so Hillside Cuvee was released. It is only released in outstanding vintages, with only 4 to 8 barrels, and only when the characteristics of the vineyard are clearly expressed. 2006, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 The vineyards on the slopes of the Alpine region have been continuously producing wines of excellent quality.
Technical information
Brewing: Fermentation in small 1-ton open-top stainless steel tanks (approximately 50% whole bunches), 17 months of aging in French barrels (approximately 50% new barrels), non-filtered, bottled without artificial fining
Vintage Information
The 2019 VTG began with a winter blessed with abundant rain, allowing the vines to escape the dryness of the previous year and sprout vigorously.
A warm spring led to excellent flowering and fruit set, followed by a smooth summer with plenty of sunshine and cool temperatures, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and perfectly, with excellent acidity.
The result was a fantastic harvest and a very special vintage.
Technical information
Brewing: Fermentation in small 1-ton open-top stainless steel tanks (approximately 50% whole bunches), 17 months of aging in French barrels (approximately 50% new barrels), non-filtered, bottled without artificial fining
Tasting Comments
It has a more concentrated flavor than the regular Cuvee, with more fascinating complexity, including bloody and gamey nuances.
The grapes are grown in a chalky soil, cool environment, and stressful conditions, and the vines are about 20 years old, so the balance between the acidity and fruit of the grapes themselves has become very good. In particular, the minerality that maintains the firmness and the nuances of red fruits bordered by excellent acidity have become more pronounced. Even when released, the fruit is not only prominent, but also the aromas of red cherries, plums, and mint spices are fragrant, and the taste is a complex blend of cassis, blackberries, sweet spices, soil, and forest nuances, with firm tannins that do not become dull and a large, rounded fullness. The aftertaste leaves a beautiful impression of the sourness of red fruits such as pomegranates and plums. It can be fully enjoyed now, and even after 5 to 10 years of aging, various elements will begin to appear moment by moment, so you can expect a long aging period.
Field Information
Alpine Vineyards
Reese's own vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Planted in 2004, 5.3ha (of which approximately 4.5ha is Pinot Noir), altitude 396m-426m, steep slope.
The soil is 15-50cm deep, consisting of soft marine sediment soil called the Purisima Formation, or shale (which is different from limestone but contains a lot of marine minerals).
The grape roots reach down to the bedrock, resulting in a complex, tense wine with plenty of minerality.
The Pinot Noir clones are Heritage and Suitcase.
Vintage: 2019
Capacity: 750ml
Type: Red wine
Taste: Medium bodied
Main variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Country of Origin: America
Region Name: California
AVA: Santa Cruz Mountains
Vineyard: Alpine Vineyard
Remarks: Rare item, limited stock Jeb Dunnuck 96＋P July 2021 by Jeb Dunnuck, Vinous 96P September 2020 by Antonio Gallon,
Winemaker: Jeff Brinkman
Winemaking: Stainless steel tank fermentation (50% whole bunch)
Aging: 17 months in French barrels (50% new), unfiltered
Rating: 90P or above
Cap: Cork
Alcohol content: 13.2%
JAN: None